The tradition of gift-giving on Christmas is believed to have originated in the early Christian era, when gifts were exchanged on January 6th, the day of the Epiphany, which commemorated the visit of the Three Wise Men to the newborn Jesus. Over time, the celebration of Christmas began to replace the Epiphany as the primary holiday associated with gift-giving. However, the practice of exchanging gifts on Christmas Day has its roots in the biblical story of the wise men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus.